Roof structure



R. J. BLAND RooF STRUCTURE April 16,v 1940.

Filed Nov'. 13, '1959 INVENTOR,

ATT EY.

` Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED yS'A'l-IS PATENT] UFF-'ECE 2,197,065 4 ROOF STRUCTURE i Robert .1. Bland, Pasadena, Calif(v f Application November 13,1939,seria1 No.- 304,04o l. 12 claims. (ol.- ios'-D@ i The principal object of my'v invention is the fabrication of an'arched-truss roof structure obviating the need of laminated raftersand adopted to span spaces of varying size, restrained against 5 vertical vand lateral stresses, `and which rmay be readily assembled or, disassembled with ease, and

at no great expense. I

A further important object is to provide a roof structure unlike any. the market aords, eliminating-the .usual intermediate` truss members for` thereof support, and providing a self-sustaining,

non-collapsible, simple, -and economicalv roof structure. 3

A further object is to provide a roof structure embracing said characteristics and employnga plurality of fabricated steelgirders, each running f the entire length of the building structure, rigid- `1y joined together so as to provide maximum strength and to all intents and purposes, prac.`

tically forming a one-piece roof spread.

A further and highly important object is the provision of a roof structure wherein placement of the roof'joists on top of the trusses, as is common to the art, is eliminated, with a corresponding reduction in structural weight, and whereby is the provision of a roof structure whereby'the accidental displacement or removal of any` one for more portions thereof, as by the dropping of a fallen object thereon, such as an aeroplane, for example, or the burning away of a portion thereof, unalects the remaining or undamaged.

portion, and readily permits of quick repairs at 'the least possible cost.

A still further object is` the provision of a-roof structureprovicling an ingeniously devised method of tieing in the respective ends of the rafters and kfor centrally-wise supporting said rafters in l aligned relation with one another, the said means effectively stiffening the separate members and, as effectively reinforcing the structure as a whole l forl achieving the benecial results herein claimed. v

I A still further object is the 'provision of a roof vstructurewherein the wooden portion thereof remains unaffected instrength in the assembly gl operations yby the almost complete elimination of apertures drilled therethrough,.a more vor less common fault' with most roof structures wherein `a `multiplicityfof holes weaken and cause splittingof the. wooden portion, with the resultant general lweakening of `the roof structure as a "5' whole. A. j s

And afurther object of the'invention is to provide a r'ool'-` structure embracing said characteristics and adaptable to building structures wherein the customary unsightly arched roof construc- 10 tion could not be employed without installationl of a finished ceiling, my` invention in its serviceability and appearance,`eliminating kthis drawback, and wherefore it is in this regard as well I as in others, `of advantageous construction and 15 v economical to install.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention willimore fully appear as this specification proceeds and as isset forth in theappended claims. p f 'j I attainthese objects by the device disclosed in the accompanyingv drawing, in Which- Figure l is a plan view indicating certain beams thereofr by 4broken lines; '1

, ligure 2 `is a section 'on line 2--2 of Figure 1; i

vFigure 3 is a section on line'3-3 of Figure. 1; Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

and y I i Figure 5 is va`section on line 5--5 of Figure 3.

Owing to the respective size of the drawing 30` scale, itshould be noted'that certain parts shown inFigures 3, 4 and 5, are not shown in Figures 1 and 2 except by broken lines. p

Similar' numerals and letters of reference indicater like parts throughout' the several views.v35 y,

R is thus started with a full short length I bear- 45 ing and aflxed to a timber T and the ,next 'or alternate rafter R starts with a half length-R bearing and afxed to a timber T. Thus the rafters are positioned in staggered relation to one another, therespective ends of each joined 50 pair of rafters thereby meeting the adjacent rafters approximately mid-way their length, and` whereby the weakness, if any, of the jointed ends is minimized by the unbroken expanse of the adjacent rafter, said alternate Amanner of position- 5:5

ing the rafters as is more fully shown in Figure 3 assuring that particular rigidity essential to any well built roof.

At the point where the curved rafters start at one end of a building, a plurality of rafters may be joined adjacent one another with suitable spacing S'.

To prevent twisting or side sway of the rafters R, beams B which are built up'of longitudinal members 4 and 5, vertical webmembers 6 having braces 'l formed integral therewith, tie-plates 8 and 9 and ller members I0, are employed.

The plate 9 as disclosed in Figure 4 is in parallel alignment with -the longitudinalmember 5. It may, however, be shaped to meet the formation of thetapered end portion of the rafter ends 2, 2 for greater bearing contact `against said ends, although this is vnot essential since the bearing obtained as shown together with .the tieing in of the plate with the rafter proper by means of the bolts I l, adequately provide for any weight that may be asserted thereagainst.

VThe longitudinal members and i5 are parallel at a distance equal to the greatest depth or" l,the rafter lengths Il. y v f The bottom longitudinal member 5 is shown as a channel iron.v It may as readily be flat or of any other suitable shape in cross section.

The respective partscomprising the beam B while shown as riveted. together, may be other- Iwise secured, as by welding, for example,

' The abutting rafter ends 2,2,.are tapered to form a reduction in their depth to approximately one-half that of the raiter depth as is indicated by 3; spacers lil` thereto affixed compensating for the reduction of said rafter ends, said bracing spacers l0 engaging the tie plate 9 in these and more comprisekbut few of the`struc-' tural characteristics that assure complete satisfaction in roof construction methods over any the market affords.

Readily produced from material obtainable in the open market and at no great expense, the invention lends itself to all building types and in many respects, is preferable to other types of roof construction.

I am aware that slight modifications may from time to time be made in the details of structure shown without departing, however, from the scope of the presentinvention, and as defined in the claims which are appended hereto. Hence, I do not limit my'present invention to the exact description of construction herein disclosed, but what I doA claim is: y

1. An arched-truss roof structurexrcomprising a pluralityv of arched trusses, a supporting structure to which ends of the trusses are secured, each of said trusses including a plurality of sections joined end toend, and `means for joining thesections of the trusses in abutting relation and for reinforcing kthe roof structure including beams extending :transversely/of Yand between the trusses at the joints thereof,A each of saidfl' beams including'an'upper longitudinal member lying upon the upper sides` of joints in thev trusses, a lower longitudinal member disposed in spaced relation to and beneath said joints, and web members joining said upper and lower longitudinal members, upper tie plates overlap ping the section joints of the trusses and lying upon the upper longitudinal members of said` i beams,v lower tie platesv disposed beneath said joints, lspacing members, disposed between and for securing together the lower `tie plates and lower longitudinal members of said beams, and 4iastenings passing through and securing together said upper tie plates, kthe v.sections of the' trusses, the lower tie plates and said spacing members. v

2. An arched-truss roof structure comprising a plurality of arched trusses, a supporting strucf'v i ture to which ends of the trusses are secured',

each of ysaid .trusses including a .plurality of 'sec'd `tions joined end to end, andimeans for joining' the sections to thetrusses inabutting' relation beams including an upper longitudinal member lying Vupon the the section joints of the trusses'and lying upon the upper longitudinal members of vsaid beams@ lower tie plates 'disposed beneath 'said joints` 4upper 'sides-.of joints in the. f trusses, a lower longitudinal ,member disposed"l in spaced relation to and beneath. said joints'. web members yjoiningsaid upper and lower. 1on1* gitudinal members, uppertie. plates overlapping` spacing members disposed'v betweenr andifor sev curing together the lower ,tie plates fand lower longitudinal members of said '.fvbeams, iasteningsf passing through and securing .together .said Join?,` per tie plates, the sections of thetrusses, the lower tie plates and Ysaid spacing members, said web members being arranged in pairs ,spaced apart to engage opposite sides of the sections at the joints, and said lower tie `.plates between and engaged with vsaid web members.

3, .An arched, truss roof structure comprising a plurality of `arehed trusses arranged side by side,

.a supporting structureyfor Vsaid trusses, each of the 'trusses vincluding a plurality of sections in end abutting relation, a plurality of beamsex-` tending side by sidetransverselyiof the trusses and includingupper and lower longitudinalmembers arranged labove andbelow the .trusses vand n webmembers joining said upper and lowerfmeme bers, and-tie means for joining the sections to one another and :the upper and lower membersVAr of said beams to ,saidsections .at the joints of.,

the latter.

4.,An arched truss roof structure comprising a plurality of arched trussesarranged sidey by side, a supporting structure for said trusses, each'V of the trusses including aplurality of sections in lend abutting relation, al-plurality Aof 4beams extending side by side transversely of the trusses and including upper and lower longitudinal members arranged above the trusses andvweb beams to said sections Vat the joints of the latbeing staggered.

V5.-'.Arch construction including arch sections M in lend abutting relation, ia' beam intersecting the joint of the .arch sections and 'including upper and lower longitudinal members extending above and below said sections, tie plates extending transversely of the longitudinal section abover and below the joint thereof, angular members secured to the lower longitudinal member and engaging and supporting the lower tie plate, webs joining the upper and lower members of said beam and having the tie plates engaged between them, and fastenings for securing together said tie plates, sections and said angular members.

joint of vthe arch sections vand including upper and lower longitudinal members extending above and below said sections, tie plates rextending transversely of the longitudinal section above and below the joint thereof, angular members Vsecured to the lower longitudinal member and engaging and supporting the lower tie plate, webs joining the upper and lower members of said beam and having the tie plates engaged between them, and fastenings for securing together said tie plates, sections and said angus lar .membera said upper longitudinal member lying beneath and engaged ywith the upper tie plate as well as with the upper sides of the sections over the joint thereof. l

'7. Arch construction including arch sections in end abutting relation, a beam intersectingA .the joint ofthe arch sections and including upper and lower longitudinal members extending above and below said sections, tie plates extend-l `ing transversely of the longitudinal section above and below the joint thereof, angular members secured to the lower longitudinal member Y and engaging and supporting the lower tie plate,

webs joining the upper' and lower members of said beam and having the tie plates engaged between them, and fastenings for securing together said tie plates, sections and said angular members, said upper longitudinal member lying beneath and engaged with the upper tie plate as well as with the upper sides of the sections over the joint thereof, said lower longitudinal member being spaced below said lower tie plate, said angular member being secured betweenits ends to the lower longitudinal member and having its ends secured by said fastenings to said lowertie member.

8. An arched truss roof structurev comprising a plurality of arched trusses arranged side by side, a supporting structure for said trusses, each l of the trusses including a plurality of sections in endv abutting relation, a plurality of beams extending side by side transversely of the trusses vr"and including upper and lower longitudinal members arranged above and below the trusses and web members joining said upper and lower members, and tie means for joiningthe sections to one another and the upper and lower members of saidbeams to said sections at the joints of the latter, each of said sections being tapered to? wards its ends, the joints of the sections of adjacentv trusses being staggered, certain of the sections being engaged between their ends and on their upper and lower facesr with the upper and lower longitudinal members of said beams. n v 9. An arched roof structure comprising a plurality of arched trusses arranged side by side, a

6. b Arch v'construction 'including arch sections in 'end abutting relation, a beam intersecting the supporting structure for said trusses, each of the trusses including a plurality of sections in end abutting relation, a plurality of beams extendf ing side by side transversely of the trusses and including upper and lower longitudinal members arranged above and below the trusses and web members joining said upper and lower members, l

`beams extending side by side transversely ofthe trusses and including upper and lower longitudinal `members arranged above and below the trussesl and web members joining said upper and lower members, tie means for joining the sections to one another and the upper and lower members ofy said beams to said sections at the joints of thelatter, said sections of said trusses beingv substantially equal in depth at a point midway between their ends and with the space between the upper and lower longitudinal members of said beams and being reduced in depth towards their ends, and arranged so that the jointsI in one truss are out of line with the joints in the adjacent trusses.

1l. An arched truss roof structure comprising a plurality of arched trusses arranged side by side, a supporting structure for said trusses, each of thetrusses including a plurality of sections inend abutting relation, a plurality of beamsfextending side by side transversely of 'the trusses and including upper' and lower longitudinal members arranged above and below thek trusses and web members-joining said upper and lower members, tie means for joining the sections to one another and the upper and lower members of said beams to said sections at the joints of the latter, said webv members lying against opposite sides of the sections at the joints thereof and being vertically disposed. y

12. An arched truss roof structure comprising a plurality of arched trusses arranged side by side, a supporting structure for said trusses, each of the trusses including a plurality of sections in end abutting relation, a plurality of beams extending side by side transversely of the trusses and includingupper and lower longitu` dinal members arranged above and below the .l

trusses and web members joining said upper and lower members, tie means for joining the sections to one anotherv and the'upper and lower members of said beams to said sections at the @joints of the latter, said web members lying against opposite sides of the 'sections at the joints thereof and being vertically disposed, and diagonal braces joining said upper and lower llongitudinal members between said web members.

- ROBERT J. BLAND. 

